Sumit SinghalSumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Aspria Hotel in Berlin, Germany by NAU Architecture

A blend of harmonious lines, soft colors and modern materials, the hotel conversion of a former industrial building expands the adjoining Aspria sport and wellness club in Berlin. Thirty-nine guest rooms, three apartments and two conference rooms spread over three floors result in an innovative series of calming, highly modern spaces.

Guests enter their room to view a panoramic window and a tailor-made pedestal bed floating in the middle of the space. The bed unit conceals the wardrobe and minibar, and integrates reading lights and storage niches. Nearly 3.5m overhead the original ribbed concrete structure is visible, with a portion of the ceiling sloping down to present a flatscreen television to guests in bed. View angles are calibrated to allow them to watch a film while sitting or lying flat in bed, while gazing out along the tree tops. Carefully selected furnishings from Vitra appoint the room, and a custom-built desk along the window leans downward to form a window seat.

Bedroom (Images Courtesy Jan Bitter)

The room’s open layout makes the most of nearly 30 square meters of usable area. The dressing area and sink are linked with the living area, shielded from view by the wardrobe. Separate shower and toilet areas are partitioned off with frosted glass sheets; a clever hinge mechanism allows one panel to become a shower stall door. Full of light and thoughtful design touches, the hotel’s contemporary flair partners well with a brand that ‘never stands still.’

Interior View (Images Courtesy Jan Bitter)

NAU

NAU is an international, multidisciplinary design firm, spanning the spectrum from architecture and interior design to exhibitions and interactive interfaces. As futurists creating both visual design and constructed projects, NAU melds the precision of experienced builders with the imagination and attention to detail required to create innovative exhibits, public events and architecture. We focus on narrative spaces, spaces that convey new ways to live, express a company’s brand effectively or communicate information in a didactic and playful manner. Active at a variety of scales, NAU’s work includes custom furniture pieces, virtual showrooms, high-end interiors for private clients and contract work for multinational corporations.